LAHAINA »Several dozen NBA scouts and general managers, seated three rows deep along the Lahaina Civic Center baseline, watched every move Austin Rivers made.
No one was watching the Duke freshman guard with more scrutiny than a tall figure in the back row. It was his father, Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers.
Duke’s Rivers, billed as one of the top freshmen in the country, delivered satisfaction on Tuesday. With a career-high 20 points and some effective first-half defense on another son of an NBA veteran, Tim Hardaway Jr., Rivers led the sixth-ranked Blue Devils to an 82-75 win over No. 15 Michigan in the semifinals of the 2011 EA Sports Maui Invitational.
"He’s playing well and he’s getting more and more comfortable with everything," said Doc Rivers, who took in Tuesday’s games next to Celtics GM Danny Ainge. "It’s different right now (since he’s gone off to college). You’re not working (due to the lockout), and I get to watch and be a fan and a parent. That’s just as fun."
It certainly is when your son is helping Duke (6-0) remain perfect in five trips to the Valley Isle with a 14-0 record. The Blue Devils face No. 14 Kansas — 72-56 winners over UCLA in the other semifinal — for the title at 5 p.m. today.
Plenty of pro progeny was on display on this particular afternoon. That Duke is in position to succeed here again is a credit to the flexibility of the 6-foot-4, 200-pound Rivers and 6-foot-2, 180-pound sophomore guard Seth Curry — son of former NBA sharpshooter and 1985 Maui MVP Dell Curry. The two are showing some cohesion despite similar playing styles as combo guards.
Curry, brother of Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, scored 17 points for the second straight tournament game and surely made his old man proud — he went 3-for-3 on 3-pointers. Duke went 11-for-21 from deep overall.
"We kept trying to get rebounds, and from there we tried to push it and run offense, and me and Seth are starting to get a real good relationship with each other on and off the court, which is helping us … trust each other on the court," Rivers said.
Queried about what it’s like to coach the sons of NBA veterans, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski elicited a laugh in the postgame media room.
"Good, because they’re good," Krzyzewski said dryly. "You always love coaching good players. And especially sons of guys who have played in the pros. They should have a greater love for the game, because they’ve grown up in the game."
Michigan (4-1) had its hands full in dealing with Duke’s NBA offspring. In addition, Blue Devils forward Ryan Kelly turned in a well-rounded game with 17 points, five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and two steals.
